Method and apparatus for the production of long electric arcs for the treatment of gases.



F. H. A. WIELGOLASKI. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LONG ELECTRIC ARCS FOR THE TREATMENT OF GASES. AHLIOATION FILED BEPT.19,1912. Lafil ggg Patented May 1 2 SHEETS-SHH- @H l Jaw 1 Invarrhzr: E H.A.Wielgmla.ski

r m f M/ 1 a 2 m W ,M w v 1 Witnesses:

F. H. A. WIELGOLASKI. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LONG ELECTRIC ARCS FOR THE TREATMENT OF GASES. APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1912.

LQFGLSSQ, Patented May 13, 1918.7

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Inventor:

E H-A.Wie lgu1u.ski

Attorney U hlltl ED PATENT FEANS HENRIK AUBER-I WIELGOLASKI, OF CHRISTIANIA, NORWAY.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LONG ELECTRIC ARCS FOR THE TREATMENT OF GASES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 13, 1913.

Application filed September 19, 1912. Serial No. 721,313.

electric light arcs, which'might be divided into several main classes with their sub-Hi v1s1ons;

The main class to which the present in-' vention belongs, comprises the processes and apparatus that are based upon displace ment or drawing-out of the light arcs along electric conductorselectrodes-by means of currents of gas moving along said electrodes. T his main class may be divided into two subdivisions viz.: First subdivision comprising such methods and constructions 'in which'both ends of the light are are displaced by the currents of gas. The light are in this case has hitherto generally burned discontinuously, and its longitudinal direction has been more or less perpendicular to the direction of motion of the gas currents and to the longitudinal direction of the electrodes, and the electrodes have both been placed in one and the samefurnace chamber and have been of a longish rod or string-shape. Second subdivision comprises such methods and constructions in which only one nd of the light are is displaced along a longish conductor, the other end remaining more or less at rest depending from quite a short electrode which only just eX- tends into the furnace chamber. The light arc in this case burns continuouslystahlyand its longitudinal direction has been more or less parallel tothe direction of motion of the gas currents and to the'long' electrode extending through the whole of the furnace chamber and at the same time wholly or partially forming the walls of the furnace chamber.

The present invention comprises a method with appertaining furnace constructions, which must be considered'as lying between the subdivisions mentioned, since in this case l ioth ends of the light are are displaced during the first part of the drawing-outalong longish electrodes according to the same principle as in ordinary horn-shaped electrodes or horirshaped lightning arresters while the light are in the drawn-out condition will burn continuously or stably. and the longitudinal direction of the light are will be parallel to the gas current as well as to the electrodes. This is attained by disposing each of the two electrodes in its separate channel-shaped furnace chamber and causing each of the two ends of the light are formed between these electrodes to be moved by one branch of the gas current in such a manner that one half of the light are is drawn out through and will be located in one of the furnace chambers, or in one half of the furnace chamber, regarding the same as a whole, treating or heating one half of the gases, while the other half of the light arc is drawn out through and will be located in the other furnace chamber or the 7 chambers may extend parallel to each other or in any direction from the common gas inlet. Since now each of the twohalves of the light arcsacts upon its gas current it is also in this case attained, what the inventor has aimed at in his previous U. S. application Serial No. 697778, viz. toenuble'light arcs of double the length and accordingly of double the voltage to be utilized as compared with other furnace constructions hitherto known and based upon the drawing-outof light arcs by means of currents of gas. In each furnace chamber, accordingly, there is only one electrode and this may'either be constituted'by the wall of the furnace itself, the whole of which must then be electrically conductive, or it may be constituted by an electric conductor placed 'within the furnace wall which is otherwise non-conductive, or, by a conductor placed inside each furnace chamber. In the latter case the arrangement is advantageously so made that the light are will circulate transversely of its longitudinal direction around the electrode simultaneously with and after thedrawing out in the longitudinal direclliOD.

In the accompanying drawings Figures 1 to 3 show longitudinal vertical sectional nace chambers, where the gases with the greatest advantageare blown in tangentia-lly. At :vis also formed the light arc the electrode tubes a?) and 0d in this instance lying so near to each other that a light are will be formed .by itself or by special means between the electrode ends b and c-, which in this instance are given a form suitable for the purpose, as

soon as said electrode tubes ab and 0-d are connected each to one pole of a source of electricity with sufiiciently high voltage. Of course there is nothing to prevent the arrangement of a larger distance between the electrode ends and the production of the light are in a different manner. This light are is now acted upon by a gas current which as already mentioned is preferably blown in tangentially to the electrode tubes and which in such case will enter helically and will pass'likewise helically through said tube-v shaped electrodes with one branch of the gas current in each electrode, each of these gas currents carrying with .it its end of the light are through its electrode, tube which the,

gases leave at their outer ends at a and d. The electrode tubes must of course be cooled well from outside and most advantageously to the greatest possible extent by means of the gases to be treated, which gases are thereby 1 cheated before being blown in at -w. V For this purpose it will be ofadvantage to provide the electrode tubes exteriorly with helical ribs as shown in Fig. 1, whereby are formed helical channels through which the gases may pass while traveling from the inlets eand -fto w. The arrows in the figure indicate the movement of the gases. The electrode tubes may either be cooled in their entire length exclusively by the gases as shown in the figure, or they may, if necessary, be extra cooled at their hottest ends at -a and -dby means of a liquid, 6. 9. water, or by still more effective means, 6. g. liquid gases and the like.

Figs. 4 and 5 represent, in longitudinal corresponding to the oneshown in Fig. 1 and 111' which the two tubular GIGCL-IOdQS or furnace chambers are forming with each other an angle of 360 instead of 180 as in Fig. 1. The cooling apparatus m and .-'n,-, which have otherwise nothing to do -with' the invention itself, serve to quickly reduce the temperature of the gases below thedissociation temperatureof the products formed, which may also be attained in different manners. These two cooling apparatus -mand -nmust be insulated from each o therto prevent the electric our rent from being entirely or partially conducted across. The cooling apparatus mand n may also at the same time serve as counter-electrodes for which purpose they are connected directly each to its pole of the source of electricity. In this case the .electrode tubes ab-and cd advantageously receive their current from said cooling apparatus -m and nand preferably through a suitable resistance to facilitate the passage of the light are from the electrode tubes ab and c-d across to the cooling apparatus n,-- and -m respectively through the highly heated and consequently conductive gases at a and (Z. The gases are blown in at fand distribute themselves as indicated by the arrows to the helical channels around the electrode tubes in the same manner as in Fig. 1. Such cooling apparatus may also be arranged in connection withthe furnace constructions shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. I

Fig. 2 represents in longitudinal section a furnace construction in which the two fur-' nace chambers together form an electrically nonconductive channel g/1- extending with one half in each .direction from the common gas inlet at m, thus actually forming two channel-shaped furnace chambers g-w and wl2. in the walls of which the electrodes o-b and cd are laid. The light arcis formed and the gases blown into the channel gh at w in the same manner. as in Fig. l, and each end of the light are is also in this case drawn out through its half of the furnace in the same manner as in Fig. 1. At the gas outlets .at g and h, where the ends of the li ht arcs will be resting, the electrodes shou d either, as shown on the right hand side at -g, be given a hunch-. shaped curvature, or, as shown on the right hand side at h, form an annular eye around the gas current. In the latter case the end of the light are will get a rotating movement on this eye or ring, if the gases are blown in so as to rotate in the furnace chamber. Also in this case an arrangement similar to the one SllOWI; ,gs. 4 and 5 may be made with cooling apparatus also 'around the electrode serving, perhaps, as counter-electrodes. The gases to be treated enter atfand also in this instance pass, on their way to a2, through a channel system 1-2-34' of a shape suitable for the purpose, in order to'be themselves preheated while cooling the walls of the furnace.

Fig. 3 represents in longitudinal section a furnace construction in which the two furnace chambers likewise together form a channel /z of electrically non-conductive material. The two electrodes in this instance are formed of two tubes (e-Z) and c-d placed in the furnace chambers and approaching each other in the middle of the furnace at -+a'- wherethe light are is formed. Here the gases issue in a rotating motion from the interior cavity of the electrode tubes through the slotbetween the ends of the electrodes at -.z.- drawing out the ends of the light are along the exterior of the electrode tubes, while at the same time the whole of the light are is whirled tubes. The latter should preferably be enlarged at their extreme ends a and das indicated in the drawing. The light arc in its completely drawn-out state will then rotate with its ends around these enlargements. The inner ends oand c-.- of the electrode tubes are supported by a metal rod (57 insulated from the tubes and tightly stretchedthrough the whole length of the furnace tubes, which metal rod of course is kept cooled by the gases flowing through the electrode tubes. The electrode tubes may for instance rest on said rod by means of porcelain pieces *8 and 9 provided with gas passages which cause the gases to rotate. The electrode tubes, for the sake of a better cooling, may also be provided interiorly with helical ribs. On the left hand side at a and on the right hand side at (Z- are shown two different arrangements for making the cooling by the gas of the electrode enlargements, on which the light arcs rotate, as eti'icient as possible. It is evident that in this instance as well as in Fig. 2 there may also be employed the still more effective. cooling methods mentioned in the description of Fig. 1. From the inlet fthe gases on their way to a: also in this instance, as indicated by the arrow, pass through a channel system 123-t to.

be themselves preheated while cooling the walls of the furnace chambers and, by their entrance into the electrode tubes, to cool the inlet ends of the same. This latter cooling of the enlarged electrode ends, on which the ends of the light are play, may be made particularly etiicient either, as shown at a in Fig. 3, by attaching to the inner supporting rod a little disk 10 forcing the gases outward toward the walls of the enlargement of the tube, or, as shown at ;'Z, by

blowing in gases extra, preferably tangentially, through a special channel 5. This gas current will then circulate briskly around and cool the interior of the electrode ends. Also the constructions shown in Figs. 2 and 3 may be arranged with their furnace chambers, and accordingly the electrodes, pointing in any direction relatively to each other in a similar manner as shown in Fig. 4.

As it will be seen, the constructions above described and illustrated in the drawings are all based upon one and the same principle consisting in forming the light are between the divergent ends or end edges, which are nearest to each other, of two conductors (electrodes) the longish extensions of which are either placed each in its channel or are formed as tubes in such a manner that the generation of the light are and its first development take place on the same principle as in ordinary hornshaped electrodes or horn-shaped lightning arr-esters, the gas current striking the light are at amore or less right angle and carrying the whole of the same with it with one end sliding along one of said divergent electrode or electrodecnd edge, and the other end sliding along the other electrode or electrode-end edge up to the point where the divergence in the present sense ceases, each of the electrodes, as already mentioned, being extended into its channel or formed into tubes, and from which point the extension of the light are continues in the manner that each end of the light are is displaced by means of its gas current along its conductor, each in its channel or along the interior or exterior of its tubularly extended electrode.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. A method of producing a long continuously burning electric arc, said method consisting in forming an electric are between the inner ends of a pair of electrodes having their inner ends adjacent and their outer ends remote from each other; and blowing back the roots of the" are from said inner ends toward said outer ends by passing separated currents of gas, substantially continuously adjacent and parallel to the respective electrodes, from said inner ends to said outer ends.

2. A method of producing a long continuously burning electric arc, said method consisting in providing a furnace space having branching channels in which the walls comprise a pair of electrodes having their inner ends adjacent and .their outer ends separated; forming an are between said inner ends; and blowing the roots of the arc toward said outer ends by passing currents of gas from said inner ends toward said outer end of the electrodes.

3. A method of producing a long electric arc, said method consisting in forming an electric arc between the inner ends of a pair of electrodes disposed in a pair of branching channels, the inner ends of the channels and electrodes being nearer each other than the respective outer ends, and blowing the roots of said arcs back from the inner ends of the channels bypassing currents ofgases through the channels from the inner to the outer ends thereof.

4. In means for forming a long electric arc, the combination of a furnace provided with a branching furnace space, and a pair of electrodes comprised in the wall of said branches and having their respective inner ends nearer together'than their outer ends, said furnace being adaptedto cause currents of gas to flow from said inner ends toward said outer ends.

5. In means for forming a long electric arc, the combination of a furnace provided with an elongated chamber, and a pair of tubular electrodes disposed within said chamber and having their respective inner ends near each other and their outer ends separated and secured in the ends of the chambers, said tubular electrodes forming with said chamber an outer space between the electrodes and the wall of the chamber,

and forming an inner space within the electrodes; said furnace body being provided with channels communicating with said spaces respectively.

6. In means for forming a long electric arc, the combination of a furnace provided with an elongated chamber, and a pair of tubular electrodes disposed within said chamber and having their respective-inner ends near each other and; their outer ends separated and secured ifQthe ends of the chambers, said tubular electrodes forming with said chamber an outer space between the electrodes and the wall of the'chamber, and forming an inner space within the electrodes; said furnace bodybeing provided with channels communicating with said spaces respectively whereby gas may pass through certain of said channels and between said inner ends and out, through the other channels.

In testimony'whereof, I have signed my nameto this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANS HENR K AUBERT WIELGOLASKI.

Witnesses:

AXEL LAHN, MOGEUS Boson.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for flve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. 0. 

